The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) has purchased a 45,000-square-foot (4180-square-meter) building in the Detroit, Michigan area to be used as a second SEMA Garage, with the facility scheduled to open in early 2022.
SEMA said that like the high-tech SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California, the Detroit facility will allow aftermarket parts manufacturers to use sophisticated resources that are typically accessible only to large-scale manufacturers. These include advanced product development tools and equipment, a state-of-the-art emissions testing lab, an ADAS research and development centre, a modern training centre, and expert technicians who will help bring products to market.
According to SEMA, the ADAS Center represents a new venture for SEMA, where manufacturers will be able to obtain static calibration of onboard vehicle ADAS systems (radars and cameras). With access to OEM-quality equipment and procedures, the association said manufacturers will be able to easily troubleshoot software and hardware obstacles, and work on dynamic testing in conjunction with local facilities.
“The SEMA Garage Detroit facility opens up new doors and opportunities,” said Mike Spagnola, SEMA Vice President of OEM Relations and Product Development. “We will be able to take our current offerings to a whole new level by making the services accessible to new members, incorporating new technology and collaborating with key partners in the area.”
Located in Plymouth, less than 50 kilometres from the heart of Detroit, SEMA Garage Detroit is near several major vehicle manufacturers and many Tier One suppliers, SEMA member companies, test tracks, automotive technology and aftermarket suppliers. The facility is three times larger than the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, which opened in 2013 and has provided more than 1000 SEMA manufacturers exclusive access to new vehicles and CAD files, facilitated rapid prototyping, and assisted in obtaining CARB EOs.
The association said SEMA Garage Detroit will undergo extensive facility improvements and include new equipment, such as emissions and horsepower testing for all-wheel-drive and diesel vehicles, vehicle lifts, full sets of tools, fabrication equipment, an alignment rack, 3D scanning tools, and engineering software. The lab will be purpose-built to accommodate a 48-inch all-wheel-drive chassis dynamometer and include a new emissions test bench. With equipment that meets the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) new 1066 testing requirement standards, SEMA Garage Detroit will be able to perform all required CARB and EPA test procedures.
“The SEMA Garage is a game changer for manufacturers,” said Spagnola. “By utilising the tools and resources in the SEMA Garage, manufacturers no longer rely on trial and error for their product development. They are also able to navigate the complex process of obtaining required certifications and meet compliance.”